Folding armchair



p 1929- I F. SIMMONS 1,727,255

FOLDING ARM CHAIR- Filed Jan. '7, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet l WITNESSES INVENTOR I I BY W I Qhuwfid/ 71457 ATTORNEY Sept. 3, 1929. F. SIMMONS 1,727,255

FOLDING ARM CHAIR Filed Jan. '7, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR 1710a fii'rrmmlw.

Paterfied Sept. 3, 1929.

1 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FINN SIMMONS, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO NU- FOLD FURNITURE COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

FOLDING ARMCHAIR.

Application filed January 7, 1928. Serial No. 245,164.

This invention relates to folding furniture and refers more particularly to a folding chair, the same being in the nature of an improvement over my coending application, Serial No. 231,945, led November The present invention comprehends a folding arm-chair, the elements of which when folded nest compactly with respect to each other so that the chair structure occupies a minimum amount of space when in folded condition.

As a further object the invention contemplates a folding arm-chair structure which may be folded or set up by a simple relative movement of the seat with respect to the back, which may be accomplished with one hand only.

As. a further feature the invention embodies a spring locking means for preventing accidental collapsing or folding of the chair when occupied.

Other objects of the invention reside in the comparative simplicity of construction of the chair, the economy with which the same may be produced and the general efficiency derived therefrom. a

With the above recited and other objects in view, reference is had to the following description and accompanying drawings in which there is exhibited one example or embodiment of the invention, while the ap pended claims define the actual scope of the invention;

In the drawings- Figure 1 is a front set-up condition;

Fig. 2'is a vertical sectional view therethrough taken approximately on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view taken ap roximately on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2, 100 'ng in the direction indicated by the arrows; 45 Fig. f is a approximately on the and looking upwardly arrows;

-; .Fig. 5 is a fragmentary enlarged detail sectional view taken approximately on the line 5-5 of Fig. 1;

view of the chair in horizontal sectional view taken line 1-4: of Fig. 2, as indicated by the Btig. 6 is a top plan view of the back res I Fig. 7 is an enlarged detail fragmentary elevation of the back rest and leg connection and locking means;

F1g. 8 is a side view of the chair in folded condition.

Referring to the drawings by characters of reference, the chair includes a back frame element 10 of substantially inverted U-shaped configuration and preferably of angleconstruction in cross section presenting spaced slde frame members 11 connected by a bight 12. The side frame members have fulcrumed between the ends on a transverse rod 13,-

the rear free ends of the side frame members 14 of a substantially U-shaped seat frame. A pair of front legs 15 are connected by a laterally spaced pair of links 16 to the lower free ends of the side frame members 11 by a transverse rod 17. The links are pivoted at 18 to rearwardly projecting ears 19 on the lower of a pair of cross bars 20 which connect and brace the frontlegs 15. Thefront legs are pivotally connected to the side frame members 14 of the seat frame by a transverse rod 21. The upper extremities 22 of the front legs which extend above the seat frame are pivotally connected at 23 to arm rails 24 which are in turn pivoted at 25 to the side frame members 11 of the back. Pivoted on the transverse rod 21 are a pair of rearwardly inclined rear legs 26 which are connected and braced by cross bars 27. The rear legs are formed with rearwardly projecting lugs 28 presenting horizontal shoulders upon which the cross rod '17 is adapted to seat when the chair is in a set-up condition. A substantially U-shaped spring including a bight 29 engaging against the under side of the seat panel 30 and-including side legs 31 having intermediate coiled portions 32 is provided. The coiled portions are engaged over the cross rod 21 and the remaining terminals 33 of the side legs engage the upper cross bar 27 of the rear leg structure. Under this arrangement it is obvious that the spring functions to maintain the cross bar 17 in engagement with the shoulders defined by the lugs 28 so as to prevent accidental oollapsing of the chair when occupied.

The arm rails 24 are preferably provided with a horizontal flange 34 which has formed at the opposite front and rear ends, upwardly and inwardly curved terminals 35. Suitably upholstered arm pads 36 are slipped laterally on to the arm rail flange 34 so that the 'front and rear ends engage the terminals 35, after which a screw or other retaining means 37 is passed through the flange 34 and anchored into the padded or upholstered arm pads. The seat panel 30 is also provided with an upholstered pad 38, while an upholstered pad 39 is secured within the back frame at the bight portion. The side frame members 11 of the back may be connected at a point above the pivotal connection of the seat frame therewith with a cross strip 40, and a plurality of vertical strips 41 may extend therefrom to the upper portion or bight 12 of the back.

In use with the chair in a set-up position as illustrated in Fig. 2, when it is desired to collapse or fold the same, the bight portion 12 of the back frame is grasped and the chair is tilted forwardly until the front legs 15 are substantially Vertical. By exerting a downward pressure on the upper end or bight portion 12 of the back the cross rod 17 is disengaged from the horizontal shoulders defined by the lugs 28. As soon as this occurs, the spring together with the weight of the back and the parts connected thereto,

causes the back to move downwardly relatively to the front legs. The rear end of the seat frame as well as the rear ends of the arm rails 24 and the rear ends of the links, swing downwardly therewith on their pivotal connections 21, '23 and 18. The rear legs swing to a substantially parallel position to'the front legs and the parts assume the position illustrated in Fig. 8.

When the chair is in the folded condition illustrated in Fig. 8, opening or setting up of the same is accomplished by grasping the upper end of the back with one hand and exerting a quick backward jerk causing the seat frame to swing downwardly and forwardly with respect to the back frame until the rod 17 riding over the rear faces of the lugs 28 engages the upper horizontal faces defining the shoulders, at which point the spring functions to retain the cross rod in said position with the chair locked against accidental collapsing. It will also be observed that in this position the rear ends of the links closely underlie the cross bar 27 which connects and braces the rear legs 26. It will also be apparent that the cross bar 27 serves as a stop for limiting the upward swinging movement of the links 16 when the chair is being opened or set up. It will be further observed that the portions of the side frame members 11 of the back disposed between the pivots 25 and cross rod 17, the portions of the front legs 15 disposed beallel with and in close proximity to the back frame, upwardly extending ends on the front legs and arms connected to said ends and to the back frame for folding therewith.

2. A folding arm chair including a back frame, a seat frame pivoted within the back frame to permit of its folding to a nested position therein, front and rear legs pivotally connected to the seat frame respectively on the outside and inside thereof to permit of their folding to a osition substantially parallel with and .in c ose proximity to the back frame, upwardly extending ends on the front legs, arms connected to said ends and to the back frame for folding therewith and lugs on the rear legs with which the lower ends of the back frame engage to-support the chair in a set up condition.

3. A folding arm chair including a back .frame, a seat frame pivoted within the back frame to permit of its folding to a nested position therein, front and rear legs pivotally connected to the seat frame respectively on the outside and inside thereof to permit of their folding to a position substantially parallel with and in close proximity to the' back frame, upwardly extending ends on the front legs, arms connected to said ends and to the back frame for folding therewith, lugs on the rear legs with which the lower ends of the back frame engage to support the chair in a set up condition and means for retaining the latter in engagement with the lugs against accidental displacement when the chair is occupied.

4. A folding arm chair including a back frame, a seat frame pivoted within the back frame to permit of its folding to a nested position therein, front and rear legs pivotally connected to the seat frame respectively on the outside and inside thereof to permit of their folding to a position substantially parallel with and in close proximity to the back frame, upwardly extending ends on the front legs, arms connected to said ends and to the back frame for folding therewith, lugs on .v

spring engaging respectively under the seat and with the rear legs. I

5. In a folding arm chair, a back frame, a seat frame fulcrumed thereto intermediate the ends of the back frame, for upward swinging movement to a folded position from an opened horizontal position, front legs pivotally connected to the outside of the front of the seat frame, having upper ends extending above the seat frame, arms pivotally connected respectively at the forward and rear ends to the upper ends of the front legs and to the back frame, a cross rod connecting the lower ends of the back frame, a connection between the front legs and said cross rod, rearwardly and downwardly inclined rear legs pivotally connected on the inside of the seat frame at the point of pivotal connection of the front legs therewith, and lugs carried by the rear legs upon which the cross rod engages and seats when the chair is set up.

6 In a folding arm chair, a back frame, a seat frame fulcrumed thereto intermediate the ends of the back frame, for upward swinging movement to a folded position from an opened horizontal position, front legs pivotally connected to the outside of the front of the seat frame, having upper ends extending above the seat frame, arms pivotally connected respectively at the forward 4 and rear ends to the upper ends of the front legs and to the back frame, a cross rod connecting the lower ends of the back frame, a connection between the front legs and said cross rod, rearwardly and downwardly inclined rear legs pivotally connected on the inside of the seat frame at the point of pivotal connection of the front legs therewith, lugs carried by the rear legs upon which the cross rod engages and seats when the chair is set up, and means for tensioning the rear legs to maintain the cross rod in engagement with the lugs, whereby to hold the chair in set-up condition against accidental collapsing when occupied.

7. A folding chair including a back frame, a seat frame foldably connected to the back frame, a transverse rod carried by said seat frame, front legs and rear legs pivotally mounted on said rod, connections between said front legs and said back frame, lugs carried by said rear legs adapted to support said back frame, and a coiled spring mounted upon said transverse rod to bear upon said rear legs to hold said legs in engagement with said back frame.

Signed at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, this 28th day of December, A. D. 1927.

FINN SIMMONS. 

